obstreperous
Americanadjective
-
resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
- Synonyms:
- refractory, uncontrolled
- Antonyms:
- obedient
-
noisy, clamorous, or boisterous.
obstreperous children.
- Antonyms:
- calm
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of obstreperous
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin obstreperus “clamorous,” akin to obstrepere “to make a noise at” ( ob- ob- + strepere “to rattle”); see -ous
Explanation
Obstreperous means boisterous, noisy, aggressive, defiant. You’ve probably seen an obstreperous child in the grocery store, pulling away from her mother, screaming at the top of her lungs. If you’ve been to a large concert where the band doesn't come on stage for hours, you might have been part of an obstreperous crowd: increasingly impatient, with fights breaking out, things thrown up onto the stage, and demands being shouted, "Give us some music before the night is out!" Some people are kind and gentle with strangers, but around their own family turn obstreperous, shouting "You never loved me!" at their mom when she gives them the smaller of two cookies.
Vocabulary lists containing obstreperous
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
To Kill a Mockingbird
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unbroken
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The first day goes wonderfully well—games of Bananagrams and Boggle, long walks with Rose’s obstreperous Newfoundland Walter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
Even at 77, he is no more than an obstreperous child, and an unhinged and dangerous one at that.
From Salon • Jan. 28, 2024
The judge also sanctioned the defendants' lawyers for making "preposterous" legal arguments and fueling their clients' "obstreperous" conduct.
From Reuters • Sep. 26, 2023
Then there’s the possibility that he came to realize that managing a platform that attracts obstreperous users and an enormous amount of public attention would be an enormous pain in the backside.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2022
Fitzsimmons began to wonder if this horse might be just as obstreperous as his sire, only much more cunning in his methods.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
